Most Powerful Weapons In Fallout 4, Ranked

Fallout 4 has a plethora of weapons for players to choose from, but these picks have got the rest beat in terms of power and destructive ability. The great game Fallout 4 has a dizzying number of

Fallout 4 has a plethora of weapons for players to choose from, but these picks have got the rest beat in terms of power and destructive ability.

The great game Fallout 4 has a dizzying number of weapons for the player to find and modify in their efforts to recover their son and bring peace to the Commonwealth. Eventually, the player will be tossing aside weapons as they find bigger and badder tools of destruction. So, it's inevitable that other weapons will rise to the top in terms of how destructive and useful they are in combat. This makes sense in a game with an RPG structure that is meant to provide players with a sense of satisfaction as they improve their efficiency in combat and become more and more powerful over time. With more powerful weapons, enemies that posed a threat can turn into mincemeat in no time at all, which can be pretty satisfying for obvious reasons.

Related: Fallout 4: Things Players Missed In The Castle

While the player should always go with a weapon that matches their character’s strength and personal playstyle, it would be foolish to ignore the best weapons in Fallout 4. In fact, some of these weapons can boast so much ridiculous power that players won't be faulted for sticking with and upgrading these weapons throughout the entire game! From legendary loot to unique weapons, there are many options at a player's behest when it comes to choosing the best weapon they can augment their playthrough with. The firearms and melee weapons in Fallout 4 are pretty unique and can completely destroy enemies if players come well-equipped to deal with the many dangers in the Commonwealth.

Updated on June 5, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Fallout 4 is a game that many people were hyped to the moon for, with Bethesda's work on the post-apocalyptic series generating a ton of hype as more and more people got into the series after it essentially abandoned its CRPG roots. While the departure from tight storytelling and unique questlines was actively derided by long-time fans, there's no denying that the shift to a proper open world helped the series quite a bit and made it more relevant than ever before.

However, in a bid to make the game more friendly to casual audiences, some people argue that Fallout 4 cut way too many corners and didn't really represent the true strengths of the series. While this criticism may be true in most instances, there's no denying that the game did a great job of modernizing many of the game's systems, with the combat being a massive improvement in every way. Players who want to make the most of Fallout 4's combat system should check out the wealth of great weapons they can utilize to take out the toughest enemies in the game without too many issues.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

119

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Refills action points on a critical hit

Those that are looking for a powerful handgun may want to consider going after Kellogg's Pistol. The specialized .44 Magnum packs an incredibly powerful punch, especially for the early game, and is capable of carrying players pretty far if they can keep it stocked with ammo.

The only drawback is that it uses .44 rounds which can be pretty difficult to find, even with the Ammo Scavenging perk. Because of this, it's usually better to save the big iron for particularly tough enemies, as its high damage output and ability (refills action points on a critical hit) are incredibly useful for practically any build.

Players will need to start the quest Reunions, which is a main story quest given by Nick Valentine. After tracking down Kellogg, players will need to dispatch him and then pick up the pistol from his body.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

203

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Critical shots do double damage and the critical meter fills 15% faster

Another weapon that players will appreciate having through the early-to-mid game, Righteous Authority is a laser rifle that rewards precision shots. This beastly weapon causes critical hits to do double damage and will also fill the critical meter 15 percent faster, giving players quite the edge when using VATS.

Its large clip size means players can rattle off multiple shots without having to worry about reloading and it uses Fusion Cells as ammunition, which are abundant in certain areas of the wasteland.

To snag the Righteous Authority, players will need to head to Paladin Danse and complete the quest "A Call to Arms." Danse can be found at the Cambridge Police Station.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Consumes less AP in VATS

One of the best parts about Fallout 4 is that it allows players to construct various builds, giving them the freedom to tackle the Wasteland in whatever playstyle they see fit. There are weapons scattered all over that can complement melee builds, ranged builds, VATS-focused builds, and everything in between.

The Deliverer is a useful and powerful pistol that can help anyone who is focused on VATS or stealth. Thanks to its suppressor, it's ideal for sneaking around, and its ability to consume less AP (25 percent less to be exact) makes it a prime weapon for VATS-focused players.

To get Deliverer, players will need to join the Railroad and then receive a quest from Desdemona called Tradecraft. Once players progress through the quest and find the body of Tommy Whispers, they'll receive the weapon from Deacon as a reward.

Damage

100

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

117

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

50% chance to cripple the target’s leg

The Striker is not a traditional weapon by any means. Based on the Fat Man, a mini-nuke launcher, the creator of this weapon traded out the mini-nukes for modified bowling balls.

Related: Fallout 4: Common Misconceptions

There was a bit of damage trade-off but dealing 275 damage with a bowling ball isn’t too shabby, and a dangerously close hit won’t kill players as a Fat Man would. Its perk grants a 50% chance to cripple the target’s leg which is nice for slowing down powerful opponents to give players some room to kite them. The Sole Survivor can also craft more bowling balls at a Chemistry Station.

The Striker can be obtained at any point in time as it’s not associated with any quests. The player simply needs to go to Beaver Creek Lanes in the southwest area of Far Harbor. The Striker is in the upstairs office.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

+25% damage/limb damage & increases recoil

As far as small guns go in Fallout 4, shotguns do some of the most damage, and the Le Fusil Terribles is no exception. Its effect even adds 25% more damage, even though the downside to it is that it gives this gun a lot more recoil.

The upside is that the recoil can be toned down a bit with different mods that can be added to this weapon. Plus, it's fairly easy to find and doesn't require players to finish any quests like many of these other powerful weapons do. This shotgun can be found in the captain's cabin in Libertalia, which players may recognize if they side with the Institute. Players can go to this location at any time despite it being related to the Institute's main quest.

The Le Fusil Terribles is located inside Libertalia, the raider encampment just south of the Nahant Warf in the water. More specifically the weapon will be sitting on a wooden crate in the captain’s cabin. Players will come here as part of the Synth Retention quest given by the Institute.

Damage

Clip Size

100

Fire Rate

127

Range

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

+15 AOE explosive damage with each shot

The Spray N’ Pray should be a familiar weapon with most players because of how useful it is and how annoying it was to find Cricket in order to buy it. It’s a submachine gun that deals 48 damage. This alone would make it a handy weapon but the perk causes each bullet to explode on impact dealing +15 damage AOE.

Related: Facts You Didn’t Know About Deathclaws In Fallout 4

Even if this isn’t a preferred style of gun, players will definitely want it if they're trying to get the Eyes On The Prize achievement in Nuka-World. Take this baby into the Bandit Roundup shooting gallery and they'll be raking in tickets in no time.

Obtaining the Spray N’ Pray can be a bit tricky as it’s typically sold by the wandering merchant Cricket. She can sometimes be found in Bunker Hill, outside Vault 81, Warwick Homestead, or even Diamond City at times. This weapon can also rarely be found on random vendors; being used by Legendary Raiders near Diamond City.

Damage

Clip Size

500

Fire Rate

272

Range

131

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Each shot deals +15 damage and sets targets on fire

Why use just a minigun when players can use a minigun that sets enemies on fire? That question can now be answered if players complete the quest The Big Dig and receive the Ashmaker as a prize. What miniguns might lack in damage, they make up for with their fire rate, and the Ashmaker makes that damage per second count go up with its fire damage.

It might be a heavy gun, but it's worth having. Players could give it to a follower so they can free up some inventory space while still using the Ashmaker if they need the space. The Big Dig quest does have a few different endings, but all of them give players a way to get the Ashmaker, so they don't have to worry about missing it based on dialogue options.

The Ashmaker is obtained exclusively through the quest The Big Dig given by Bobbi No-Nose near Goodneighbor. The weapon can be given as a reward for betraying Bobbi or looted off of Fahrenheit’s corpse if siding with Bobbi.

Damage

Speed

Medium

AP Cost

Special Effect

Boost to damage, added poison damage, and bleed damage

This wicked-looking sacrificial blade is a great reference to the horror author H.P. Lovecraft who frequently wrote about cults worshiping powerful cosmic monstrosities. In fact, the weapon is found beneath Dunwich Borers a reference to his short story The Dunwich Horror.

The dagger deals an impressive 49 damage and causes bleeding and poison effects on opponents. Dark-minded players will get a thrill sneaking up on opponents, stabbing them in the back with this wicked weapon, and watching as their enemy slowly dies and their souls are sent to the void where things wriggle in the darkness.

The Kremvh’s Tooth is located beneath Dunwich Borers. Just before reaching the bottom of the shaft is an underwater tunnel leading to an altar where the weapon is located. There are ten quests that lead the player to the Dunwich Borers, but none lead to the secret chamber where the weapon is hiding.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

+25% Fire Rate and +15% Reload

While this weapon is pretty powerful, it takes a bit of effort to get it sometimes. Protectron's Gaze is a laser rifle that was added to the Automatron DLC. One of the main aspects of this DLC is that players must find and defeat a character called the Mechanist, who has the only version of Protectron's Gaze in the game.

When they meet the Mechanist in her lair, they can either kill her to get this weapon or, if she's spared, she can offer the gun for players to buy if they give her a more powerful weapon. For those that like energy weapons, the trade might be worth it, as this gun does quite a bit of damage. It also reloads and fires faster than other weapons.

This is the personal weapon of the Mechanist who is residing in The Mechanist’s Lair near the RobCo Sales & Service Center. The player will come here as part of the Restoring Order quest. The weapon can be obtained by killing the Mechanist, pickpocketing it, or possibly buying it by providing her with a better weapon first.

Damage

Clip Size

500

Fire Rate

340

Range

203

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

+25% Fire Rate & +15% Reload

Final Judgement looks like a weapon straight out of the Terminator series and acts like it too. It’s a Gatling laser that deals 26 damage with a ridiculous fire rate. There are few feelings greater in this game than pummeling laser beam after laser beam into a deathclaw and watching it melt.

Related: Fallout 4: Every Vault & Where To Find Them

The one downside is that it requires valuable Fusion Cores to power it. This can get pricey and players will be debating between using this gun or their power armor, but for those with the funds or the stash of Cores, this is a fun gun.

There are three opportunities to obtain this weapon from the current owner Arthur Maxson. The first is during the Railroad quest Precipice of War, instead of traveling to the Police Station the player can go to the Prydwen and kill Maxson. The second is during the Rocket’s Red Glare quest given by the Railroad faction when the player is ambushed by Maxson after planting the explosives. The final way is the least recommended due to a bug. During the quest Airship Down Maxson will be on a Vertibird fighting Synths, the player can kill him and get the weapon, but if the Prydwen blows up his body may wind up under the wreckage and be inaccessible.

Damage

42 Regular & 50 Radiation

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

119

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

+15 AoE damage

The Kiloton Radium Rifle is very similar to the Spray N' Pray but is far superior. Its physical damage is 36, but it also deals 50 radiation damage over time, and like the Spray N Pray, its bullets explode on impact dealing 15 AoE damage.

This semi-automatic radiation gun is great for firing a couple of rounds into distant opponents and watching as their health drains away before they can reach the Sole Survivor. If players want this weapon, they’ll need to visit the Children of Atom at the Nucleus.

The weapon is sold by Brother Kane who is residing in the Nucleus where the Church of the Children of Atom is located. In fact, the player will need to join the Children of Atom in order to be able to buy from Brother Kane.

Damage

100 Radiation

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

119

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

None

While this gun may not look super powerful, it can pack a punch against human enemies. The Gamma Gun does lots of radiation damage to enemies and has a fairly large area of effect compared to most guns.

This weapon can also come with legendary effects on it for even more bonuses. That plus the multiple options to mod the Gamma Gun can make it even more powerful for any difficulty or any player's skill level. A few shots from this gun can even take out large, heavily armored bosses — as long as they're humans since most creatures and robots in the Wasteland aren't too adversely affected by radiation.

This weapon is used by the Child Of Atom cultists and can be looted of their corpses. Those carrying this weapon can be found in the Decayed Reactor Site or the Kingsport Lighthouse. Players may consider buying Gamma Rounds from merchants to use this long-term.

Damage

40 Regular & 100 Radiation

Speed

Slow

AP Cost

Special Effect

Extra radiation damage

Speaking of the Children of Atom, another weapon in their possession is this monstrous Atom’s Judgement. It’s a massive sledgehammer that deals a terrifying 315 damage with 787 radiation damage over time. This is possible thanks to the cracked fusion cores the cultists strapped to the head of the hammer.

Related: Facts You Didn’t Know About Super Mutants In Fallout 4

A few swings should kill just about anything and whoever manages to survive will quickly succumb to the radiation now flowing through their body. Even if players don’t plan on using this hammer themselves, having a companion like Strong wielding this weapon makes for a terrifying ally. It is easily one of the best weapons in Fallout 4.

This is the valuable reward given to the player after completing the Children of Atom quest The Heretic. It’s given out by the Grand Zealot Richter who is located in the Nucleus.

Damage

123

Speed

Slow

Range

AP Cost

Special Effect

Each Critical Hit refills action points

This unique baseball bat is found in the Nuka-World DLC after players help rescue the family of a character named Cito. He will give them this bat as a reward for their efforts. As far as melee weapons go this is the best weapon in Fallout 4.

Cito's Shiny Slugger can do 94 damage. It also has the Relentless effect on it, causing Critical Hits to refill the player's AP so they can do more targeted damage even quicker. There are lots of different upgrades that players can put on this bat as well, and the Nuka-World DLC also allows players to paint the bat and make it weighted, which does even more damage.

The player will receive this reward from Cito after completing the Safari Adventure quest. Cito is located in the Safari Adventure theme park.

Damage

150

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

14.3

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Double damage if the target has full health

The DLC Far Harbor introduced a number of unique concepts and harpoon guns like Admiral’s Friend are by far the most interesting. Admiral's Friend deals a whopping 300 damage which thanks to a perk doubles to 600 if the opponent is at full health.

Admittedly the fire rate is abysmal, but for stealthy characters taking that 600 damage and adding in a stealth multiplier on top can deal astronomical levels of damage. If anything doesn’t die after that first hit they almost deserve to live.

Allen Lee will sell this weapon to the player. Lee is a merchant located in the town of Far Harbor. Players just need to interact with him and have around 1,500 caps available.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

Accuracy

108

AP Cost

Special Effect

Consecutive strikes increase damage

This deceptively named weapon is great for mid-range encounters. Found in Nuka-World it deals 49 damage and has an excellent fire rate. What really makes it shine is the perk that deals increased damage after each consecutive hit on the same target.

Related: Hilarious Fallout 4 Memes Only True Wastelanders Understand

If players can make every hit count then their damage output will skyrocket very quickly as stronger and stronger bullets pummel into their enemies. However, it can be pretty easy to miss shots in Fallout 4 with enemies moving about wildly, so it's important to either close the distance or be extremely accurate at longer ranges to trigger the extra damage afforded by this weapon.

Aaron Corbett at the Nuka-Town Market will sell this item to the player.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

185

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Consecutive strikes increase damage

This weapon is similar to the Splattercannon but with a much better range at the cost of initial damage. The first bullet deals 21 damage, but with a perk that increases damage by 15% for each consecutive hit, it will quickly add up.

Because it’s a ranged weapon, players can get some far-range shots at the enemy before closing the distance. It's easy to see that players who get their hands on The Problem Solver will have a weapon capable of dishing out impressive damage... assuming their shots hit the target of course. Some players prefer the slower fire rate as there’s less chance of one of the bullets missing and resetting the damage stack.

This weapon is obtained through the Ambitious Plan quest given by Mason in Nuka-World. Players must pass a Charisma check with him and only choose aggressive dialogue choices whenever they speak with him.

Damage

794

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

117

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

None

Arguably the most powerful weapon in the game is the Nuka-Nuke Launcher found in Nuka-World. It’s essentially a Fat Man that has been modified to hurl modified mini-nukes known as Nuka-Nukes at foes.

These Nuka-Nukes deal a whopping 833 damage at a decent range from the enemy. This thing is absolutely useless in close quarters so players will want something like the Atom’s Judgement for those encounters. However, mid-range enemies will be absolutely obliterated on an atomic level. In a world devastated by nuclear holocaust and radioactive fallout, it’s only fitting that a mini-nuke launcher would be the strongest weapon in the wastes.

The best gun in Fallout 4 is tucked away in a vault below John-Caleb Bradberton’s office in Nuka-Town. Players must be on the Cappy in a Haystack quest and side with Bradberton over Sierra to get the bests weapon.

Damage

24 Normal and 24 Energy

Clip Size

Fire Rate

136

Range

203

Accuracy

140

AP Cost

N/A

Special Effect

Fire rate is 25% faster and reloading takes 15% less time

A unique weapon that is extremely powerful, players should never let Experiment 18-A go. It's an automatic plasma rifle that fires so many shots in one go that it can genuinely be hard to keep track of. Ammo is bound to be a scarcity with this gun, given how much energy it absolutely eats through in a single firefight.

RELATED: Fallout 4: Secret Side Quests Everyone Missed & How To Start Them

There's a reason why so many people love this weapon — it's extremely satisfying to see most enemies turn to ash with a few shots. As long as players maintain a healthy store of ammo and don't whip this weapon out for every encounter, they'll be more than happy with what Experiment 18-A brings to the table.

The gun can be bought from the synth requisition officer in the Institute.

Damage

Clip Size

Fire Rate

Range

119

Accuracy

AP Cost

Special Effect

Comes with Two Shot, which shoots two bullets in one go at the price of one

Not only is the Overseer's Guardian one of the best weapons in the game, but it can be obtained really early on. Players who know what they're doing can easily power through the game's enemies with little to no issues.

The two-shot ability of this gun completely obliterates the health bar of most enemies in the game, which makes it pretty satisfying to use. The gun also uses a form of ammo that is pretty common, meaning that players won't have to worry about ammo either! The Sole Survivor can easily pick off enemies from a distance with this powerful and easily-accessible sniper rifle before using close-range weapons to deal with any stragglers who manage to avoid their shots and close the distance to the player.

The gun can be bought from Alexis Combes in Vault 81.

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Fallout 4best weapons in Fallout 4Updated on June 5, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra:best weapons in Fallout 4best weapon in Fallout 4

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Most Powerful Weapons In Fallout 4, Ranked